A friendly running club based in Cirencester!

RSE Club Report – How hard can it be?

Silkin Way Ultra

Organised by How Hard Can It Be Events, the Silkin Way Ultra takes runners from the south side of Telford by the River Severn, to the northern side in Brockton. Once refuelled in Brockton, runners travel back through Telford, before turning west towards Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge. The route includes running over the world’s first iron bridge erected in 1779.

A huge well done to Nadine Brown who, not content with the comparatively short Fission 20-miler the week before, completed the 29.5 miles route in 5:02:56!

Found it challenging after last week’s race but the route was varied and the gorgeous weather made it an enjoyable day out!

Nadine Brown

Incredible running, Nadine!

Weston Super Mare Half Marathon

Starting at the iconic Weston Super Mare Grand Pier, this half marathon takes runners through the surrounding picturesque Somerset villages. The race is tipped as fast, and allows runners to finish half a mile out to sea!

Running a new personal best was RSE’s Katy Miller, who finished in a brilliant time of 1:56!

It was a wonderful day and amazing weather. Sections along the beach on hard pack sand and a couple of small climbs but nothing too much – Finish along the grand pier. All in all a lovely day out the seaside!

Katy Miller

Well done, Katy!

Calne Clock Change Challenge

Waking up an extra hour earlier is never easy, so what better way to start the day than getting up and running a fast 5k race! The Calne Clock Change Challenge is popular race amongst RSE members, with options for a 10k, 5k or 1.5k fun run. Each option is fast and flat, taking runners on an out and back along Calne’s country lanes and finishing at the leisure centre.

A huge well done to Team Pitts who took on the 5k challenge!

  • Kirsty Pitts – 25:51
  • Martin “Ted” Pitts – 26:17

Well done to both of you! And we are loving the spring medals! 🌼🌞

parkruns

Lydiard parkrun

  • David Witnall – 19:22

Hove Promenade parkrun

  • Sarah Page – 25:24

Cirencester parkrun

  • Steve Sandercock – 25:01 – New PB and 1st in age group!
  • Kevin Joynes-Creed – 27:46
  • William Gardiner – 27:50
  • Kathryn Cowdall – 29:48
  • Anne-Marie Davies – 29:52
  • Louise Hayes – 30:40
  • Caroline Joynes-Creed – 32:08

Witney parkrun

  • Phil Southworth – 22:24

Tetbury Goods Shed parkrun

  • Taryn Hancock – 29:28

Stratford Park parkrun, Stroud

  • Jon Collins – 28:13
  • Cathy Steer – 34:34

Dietenbach parkrun

  • Andy Sworn – 24:51
  • Carol Sworn – 26:55 – 2nd lady overall!

Durlston Country Park parkrun

  • Darren Jenner – 29:09
  • Felicity Crotty – 35:53

Parkrun result not mentioned? It may be that you’re not listed as Running Somewhere Else in the parkrun results online. For information on how to change/add RSE as your listed club, click here.

If you would like a run or race included in the club report, don’t forget to message Ellie Taylor by 5pm Sunday each week 🙂

RSE Report – A Race of Two Halves and Two Half Marathons!

Fission Half Marathon and 20 Mile

Starting on the outskirts of Berkeley, these races take place on the flat country lanes near to the river Severn and through the villages of Ham and Rockhampton. The half marathon takes on 1 lap while 20 mile entrants are treated to a 2nd lap of the route. While scenic for the countryside views, the race is also known for some long runs into the wind.

Fission 20 was the next race in the RSE club championship, which meant there was a higher-than-normal turnout of club members for a 20 mile run! It also tied in well to training plans for those running a spring marathon.

Half Marathon Results:

  • Tim Wainwright – 2:02:46
  • Kirsty Pitts – 2:02:46

My fastest half in 7 years – really enjoyed today! Thanks to Kirsty for pacing me.

Tim Wainwright

20 Mile Results:

  • David Witnall – 2:38:06
  • Phil Southworth – 2:50:17
  • Nadine Brown – 2:55:29
  • Rosie Hartland – 3:00:20 – New PB!
  • Ellie Taylor – 3:02:18
  • Elaine Chapman – 3:05:13
  • Sarah Page – 3:06:25 – 1st in age category!
  • Roger Woolford – 3:21:06
  • Kevin Joynes-Creed – 3:21:07
  • Liz Farooq – 3:23:02
  • Vicki Mason – 3:31:21 – New PB!

A huge well done also to Nadine, Rosie and Ellie who came 3rd place in the Ladies Team Challenge!

A lovely route – I prefer a longer race to have laps so I know what I’m getting myself in to! Special thanks to those that helped push me round the course 😊

Ellie Taylor

Forest of Dean Half Marathon

It comes as no surprise that the Forest of Dean Half marathon surrounds runners with natural beauty, following the forest trails across a multi-terrain route. Although the website states there are ‘gentle inclines’, the gravelled, uneven tracks make this a tough course for runners.

A huge congratulations to Zoe Markham-Lee for completing the course in a time of 2:30:49!

Honestly, the hardest race I’ve done to date. I actually gave blood and sweat today, but luckily no tears!

Zoe Markham-Lee

Well run, Zoe!

parkruns

Lydiard parkrun

  • Richard Edwards – 33:39

Cirencester parkrun

  • Campbell McIlroy – 24:47
  • Steve Sandercock – 25:19
  • Sylvia Warman – 36:12

Tetbury Goods Shed parkrun

  • Taryn Hancock – 29:44

Central parkrun, Plymouth

  • Felicity Crotty – 30:35

Parkrun result not mentioned? It may be that you’re not listed as Running Somewhere Else in the parkrun results online. For information on how to change/add RSE as your listed club, click here.

If you would like a run or race included in the club report, don’t forget to message Ellie Taylor by 5pm Sunday each week 🙂

RSE Club Report – From parkrun to Ultras!

Beginner’s Graduation – Cirencester parkrun

To mark the end of the beginners course this week, RSE took to Cirencester parkrun, to run, to cheer (with pom-poms!) and to support fellow club members as many completed their first parkrun!

After the run, it was then on to Somewhere Else, for a well deserved breakfast roll and coffee. Homemade cakes were also available to purchase in aid of RSE’s club charity, the Great Western Air Ambulance.

  • David Witnall – 20:16 – 2nd overall!
  • Paul Robertson – 22:23
  • Phil Southworth – 22:28
  • Daniel Chiechi – 23:21
  • Mick Bagot – 24:52
  • Kevin Joynes-Creed – 25:58
  • Tim Wainwright – 26:38
  • Ellie Taylor – 26:41
  • Prelini Udayan-Chiechi – 27:04
  • Kirsty Pitts – 27:32
  • Jo Beames – 27:34
  • Wayne Edgington – 27:49
  • Jessica James – 40:22
  • Gareth Roberts – 29:26
  • Richard Marshall – 30:23
  • Anne-Marie Davies – 30:29
  • William Gardiner – 30:30
  • Richards Edwards – 30:34
  • Kathryn Cowdall – 31:04
  • Jess Osbourne – 31:20
  • Amanda McIlroy – 34:45
  • Louise Hayes – 34:46
  • Sue Navin – 34:58
  • Hannah Truman – 35:01
  • Sallie Clatworthy – 35:48
  • Sylvia Warman – 35:50
  • Nikki Van Wyk – 36:58
  • Amanda Ball – 37:00
  • Portia Bigger – 40:21
  • Penny Athawes – 40:22
  • Caroline Joynes-Creed – 40:23

A huge thank you also to those who turned up to cheer runners in at the finish line or complete a lap in support – it’s safe to say it was the loudest crowd Cirencester parkrun has seen!

The Grizzly 2022

The Grizzly is a race that lives up to its name, tough and hilly. Describing this race as multi-terrain doesn’t quite do it justice – think pebbles, mud, river-crossings, bogs, fields and more! Take a look at the course video here. Runners had options for a 9 mile (cub) or full 20 mile option.

A huge well done to the RSE members who took part in the run!

  • Kevin Joynes-Creed – 4:28:35 (watch time)
  • Carol Sworn
  • Andy Sworn
  • Elaine Chapman

Official times are still to be released.

It’s safe to say I was under trained, under prepared and under no illusion that was going to be fun.
The bogs were awesome, the hills were brutal but the views made it all worthwhile.

Kevin Joynes-Creed

Imber Ultra – 33 Miles

Mark Manley and Lesley Hinsley are clocking up the ultras this year, this time completing the Imber Ultra in Westbury. The route takes runners across the Salisbury Plain before heading across the Imber Range Perimeter Path and on to the German Village and Warminster. This is another tough run, with around 3100 ft of elevation!

[It was] Fun!
Salisbury plain is interesting – very exposed and quite hilly (3100 feet). Wouldn’t fancy it in the rain! Just love being out in the country doing ultras and Lesley is such good company and doing so well

Mark Manley

Mark and Lesley finished in an impressive time of 5:59:45! Excellent work both of you!

Minchinhampton 10k

Hills are the theme this week and it’s unsurprising that a race around Minchinhampton is not flat! The course starts starts in the centre of Minchinhampton and heads in the direction of Avening, with a long descent down Hampton hill. As runners reach the hamlet of Nagshead, runners are faced with a 1.5km climb back up to Minchinhampton and through the golf course.

RSE club members achieved some excellent results on the course:

  • Ben Mutlow – 47:41
  • Sarah Hancock – 53:01 – 1st LV45!
  • Anne Gardiner – 55:49 – 2nd LV55!

Bideford Half Marathon

Starting and finishing at Bideford Amateur Athletic Club, this half marathon is described as ‘relatively flat’. The course boasts stunning views of the countryside as well as the River Torridge. The route is a mix of roads and the Tarka Trail, and runners are also treated to a tunnel crossing.

RSE’s Martin Sherriff ran a brilliant time 1:45:44, a new PB! He was joined by former club member, Tom Cooper (and no doubt celebrated with a beer or 2 after!).

Tiring and sore

Martin Sheriff

We feel your pain, Martin! Well done on a great run.

Hullavington H20

We all know what a it means when a race website says ‘undulating’, but the picturesque countryside around Hullavington more than makes up for a few hills. Stampede Sports host races of different distances across the year, and today was the turn of their 20 miler, which follows a 2 ‘unequal’ lap course. These races are popular amongst RSE members, in part for the excellent selection of free cake that runners receive at the finish.

  • Cheri Edwards – 3:12:40
  • Jon Collins – 3:13:11

Well done both of you, and we hope you enjoyed the cake!

parkruns

Seaton parkrun

  • Andy Sworn – 31:50

Bolberry Down parkrun

  • Darren Jenner – 24:48
  • Felicity Crotty – 30:33

Parkrun result not mentioned? It may be that you’re not listed as Running Somewhere Else in the parkrun results online. For information on how to change/add RSE as your listed club, click here.

If you would like a run or race included in the club report, don’t forget to message Ellie Taylor by 5pm Sunday each week 🙂

RSE Club Report – Ice Ultras and Terminators!

Arctic Sweden – Ice Ultra Marathon

This extreme challenge crosses 230km of Swedish Lapland, in temperatures reaching as low as -40 degrees. Surrounded by forests, frozen lakes and mountains, runners are expected to wear head torches due to the short daylight hours, meaning entrants spend much of their time running in the dark.

It takes an incredible ultra runner to enter the challenge, let alone finish all 230kms, but RSE’s Andy Sampson did just that!

Arctic Circle Ice Ultra – Done. 5 days and 230km of suffering relentless powder snow, ruthless Arctic blizzards in the -30s, multiple punishing mountain climbs, endless frozen lakes and vast undulating pine forests, to then sleep in secluded log cabins with log burners for heat, head torches for light, crystal clear lake water for drinking and, if lucky, a hole in a wooden box, with a seat. But in return, the reward was scenery as epic as it was brutal; complete silence in the utter wilderness; profound solitude under an aurora filled night sky, entirely cut off from humanity. It was, truly epic.

[It] was the hardest but best race I’ve ever done

Andy Sampson

To put how tough this race was into context, Andy has previously completed the Marathon Des Sable and Comrades!

The Terminator

This challenging, multi-terrain race is held in Pewsey, Wiltshire, following approx. 12 miles of muddy, hilly fields. Notoriously tough, the course starts gentle across the canal towpath, before hitting the hilly climbs across the Wiltshire hills. The race boasts some stunning views and great marshalls.

Four RSE members took to the course, finishing in brilliant times!

  • Kirsty Pitts – 2:14:40
  • Janet Daniels – 2:14:41
  • Kevin Joynes-Creed – 2:47:13
  • Caroline Joynes-Creed – 2:47:13

I loved it! It was certainly tough but the route was fantastic and the views were stunning… thank goodness for the sunshine 🌞 This year the route was shorter than previous years which cut out the river crossing, which weirdly I was looking forward to 🤣 Janet and I kept each other going all the way and went over the finish line together.

Kirsty Pitts

Well done to everyone running, and to Kev and Caroline who stopped to help with a medical emergency at the start before continuing the race.

Wokingham Half Marathon

Starting and finishing in Cantley Park, Wokingham, this race is tipped as fast and flat, attracting over 2,000 runners to the course. The route takes runners through the town centre of Wokingham before following rural roads to the villages of Shurlock Row and Hurst.

Running for RSE was David Witnall, Nadine Brown and Ellie Taylor.

  • David Witnall – 1:30:37
  • Nadine Brown – 1:49:16
  • Ellie Taylor – 1:51:16

A quick Half Marathon course, but it is a case of knowing the route to chase that quick time! The first half of the race is fast, owing to the decline in elevation but the last 3 miles, the elevation has to be regained and rhythm can be interrupted. I enjoyed the challenge though – I’ll have to return to get it right next time!

David Witnall

A lot more undulating than the description makes out! It was a lovely course though, and great to see so many crowds cheering the runners on.

Ellie Taylor

Bourton 10k

The Bourton 10k is a popular race amongst RSE members for its flat, fast and picturesque route. Held in the heart of Bourton-on-the-Water, the course consists of 2 laps of the village plus 1 smaller lap.

Well done to Anne Gardiner and Paul Coates for taking on the challenge, as well as Liz Hulcup who volunteered as tail runner!

  • Paul Coates – 49:12
  • Anne Gardiner – 52:07 – A New PB!

It’s a beautiful location and great atmosphere. 700 runners today and, from this year is also part of the England Age Masters – so lots of very good runners there. There were queues for the car park so I should have left home a bit earlier- gave me a good warmup run to catch registration!

Anne Gardiner

Excellent running!

parkruns

19/02/2022

Hampstead Heath parkrun

  • Jenny Hoffmann – 32:21

Chippenham parkrun

  • Darren Jenner – 24:49
  • Felicity Crotty – 32:15

Melksham parkrun

  • Phil Southworth – 22:22

Stratford Park parkrun, Stroud

  • Jon Collins – 44:32

26/02/2022

Tamar Trails parkrun

  • Darren Jenner – 24:56
  • Felicity Crotty – 31:42

Weymouth parkrun

  • Kathryn Cowdall – 29:50 – A New PB!

Cirencester parkrun

  • Michael Bagot – 24:41
  • Steve Sandercock – 25:29 – 1st in age category!
  • Andy Sworn – 27:17
  • Anne Gardiner – 27:39 – 3rd lady overall and 1st in age category!
  • Carol Sworn – 27:43
  • Wayne Edgington – 27:53
  • William Gardiner – 28:18
  • Louise Hayes – 31:17

Tetbury Goods Shed

  • Elliot Gardiner – 22:05 – A New PB!
  • Cheri Edwards – 24:11
  • Vicki Mason – 26:34 – A New PB!

Stratford Park parkrun, Stroud

  • Jon Collins – 30:09

Marine Parade parkrun

  • Phil Southworth – 22:07

Parkrun result not mentioned? It may be that you’re not listed as Running Somewhere Else in the parkrun results online. For information on how to change/add RSE as your listed club, click here.

If you would like a run or race included in the club report, don’t forget to message Ellie Taylor by 5pm Sunday each week 🙂